22 August 2014
A new study from Iran suggests that inhaled corticosteroids in combination with vitamin D supplementation could improve airway functions in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.
The randomized controlled trial tested pulmonary functions (forced expiratory volume in one second) and measured blood vitamin D concentrations of 130 patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma, aged 10 to 50 years, who used an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) alone or in combination with vitamin D (a single dose of 100,000 IU injected intramuscularly plus 50,000 IU orally per week) for 24 weeks (1). The study results showed that after 24 weeks the pulmonary function of the patients who had also received vitamin D was significantly better than the lung function of the patients who used only asthma medication.
The researchers commented that there seem to be synergistic effects of vitamin D supplementation and to asthma controllers on airway functions. Vitamin D is hypothesized to have some roles in innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation reduction, and remodeling (2). Therefore, it is supposed to affect the asthma phenotype, severity, and response to inhaled corticosteroids.
1 January 2016
It is a universal wish of parents around the globe that their children should sleep longer, deeper and wake as little as possible. There is growing evidence that good sleep is important for the child’s mental development. This article will examine whether simple nutritional intervention, for example with foods high in marine omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins or tryptophan can improve children’s sleep.
23 January 2017
15 August 2017
Food for thought is a reality, as the brain requires about 20 percent of our total energy intake. Learn about three nutrients that play a role in brain health.
